Participants in the Gazette's Republican Primary Election Poll last week visited our web site, www.ClearwaterGazette.com, in record numbers, and predicted the outcome in two of the three races in question.
In the Clerk of the Circuit Court primary, Brian Aungst received 27% of the votes cast in the Gazette poll, and 42.4% of the actual vote. Ken Burke, the winner, netted 72% of our poll votes, while receiving 57.6% of the actual vote.
In the primary race for County Sheriff, Jim Coats won by a margin of 83% to 17% over Tim Glassburner in the actual vote, closely matching the Gazette poll's 82-17% result.
In the close 4-way primary race for County Commission District 1, Ronnie Duncan won with 29.6%; he garnered only 18% in the Gazette poll. Runner up Neil Brickfield attracted 27.5% at the polls, but led in the Gazette poll with 35%. J.J. Betrouti took third with 21.5% while capturing 29% of the Gazette votes, and Lucile Casey finished 4th with 21.2% at the polls, receiving 15% of the Gazette readers votes.
We are pleased with the positive response of our readers to the Gazette's polling feature, and plan to run it again prior to the November general election. Thank you for your participation.